It’s a small thing to make workplace changes but they can have a big impact
When you employ a person living with disability, they very often do not need any specific workplace changes to be effective in their job. For those that do, some form of modification or adjustment will help them overcome the impact of their disability, and build a more equitable and inclusive workplace.
For employers, it’s very easy to make workplace adjustments to remove barriers to employment when needed. Many workplace adjustments involve applying good HR practice that you would do for any new employee. For instance, changes to employment processes can give a person a more equal chance at being recruited and promoted.
atWork Australia can help you access funding for workplace modifications for your new employee, at no cost to your business.
What is a workplace adjustment?
Workplace adjustments allow a person to do their job safely and productively, in an inclusive environment. They’re very often the only thing that distinguishes someone living with disability in the workplace.
Here are some examples:
- Allowing a person living with disability to have some flexibility in their working hours, such as working part-time, starting and finishing later, or teleworking for part of the week
- Introducing fair, more equitable recruitment processes, such as standardised interviews
- Redistributing minor duties (not inherent requirements of a job) that a person living with disability finds difficult to do
- Buying or modifying equipment, such as speech recognition software for someone with vision impairment, or an amplified phone for a person who is hearing impaired
- Height-adjustable work stations
Funding for workplace adjustments
atWork Australia can help your business access funding from the Australian Government to cover the costs of making workplace changes relevant to your employee’s barrier. If you need to buy equipment, make modifications or access services for your new employee, help is at hand to manage the application process at no cost to your business.
Some examples of specific workplace modifications that are eligible for funding include:
- Making adjustments to the physical workplace
- Modifications to work vehicles
- Special equipment for the workplace
- Information and communication devices
- Auslan interpreting services
- Specialist services for employees living with specific learning disorders and mental health conditions
- Disability awareness training for the workplace
- Mental health awareness training
Diversity Webinar Series
People living with disability, injury, health condition or from a diverse background, have many contributions to make to workplaces and the wider community, but their capacity to do so can be limited by the perceptions or actions of others.
Because we know that understanding is the first step to inclusion, atWork Australia is pleased to run Diversity Awareness Training for all our employer partners, to help enhance awareness and knowledge of disability and inclusion. Our training covers a range of topics, including managing a diverse team, supporting those with mental health conditions in the workplace, and making adjustments to your workplace so that it’s accessible to all.
The result is informed and confident leaders and employees who are ready to benefit from an inclusive and diverse workplace.
